Slitter and the like for sheet feeding presses



De.\ 30, I941 J. A. DAVIDSON I 2,268,111

SLITTER AND THE LIKE FOB SHEET FEEDING PRESSES y Filed June 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR JOHN I. 0/1 W SON ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 30, 1941 SLITTER AND THE LIKE FOR SHEET FEEDING PRESSES John A. Davidson, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 26, 1939, Serial No. 281,188

14 Claims.

This invention relates to slitters or perforators for offset presses or other presses where print sheets are being continually fed.

The many attempts at providing slitting or perforating devices in presses of the above-mentioned type, have not produced suitable devices which can have universal use and application. The various slitters used in these presses, being of relatively large size, and therefore, costly, could not be tampered with and could not be subjected to the pressure of slitting devices unless amply protected against mutilation.

The present invention, recognizing these faults, seeks to provide means for slitting or perforating sheets as they are passing through the press in suchamanner as to obviate the faults mentioned above.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of slitting means which act on the sheets during the period when they are under full control and thereby obviating the producing of imperfectly slitted sheets.

The invention as herein contemplated comprises three major components, namely, sheet slitting means, cylinder protecting means; and sheet dividing means. In addition the invention also contemplates the provision of .means for guiding the application to a cylinder of the mentioned cylinder protecting means. i

The details of construction, arrangement, and mode of application of the various components comprising the instrumentalities of the invention, also form a material part of this disclosure.

It should be recognized after perusal of the following detailed specification that the invention may be modified and in other ways varied from the present disclosure. However, the accompanying drawings forming the basis for the specification, illustrate in exemplary form, an embodiment of the invention as at present conceived.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic elevational view of a sheet feeding press having the components of the invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view,.to substantially full scale, of a slitter or perforator constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detailed cross-sectional view of that portion of the impression cylinder of a press at which the cylinder protecting means is secured;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the protecting means holding and adjusting unit;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a middle fragment of an impression cylinder illustrating the manner of locking the cylinder protecting means;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational View thereof;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view, foreshort, of

a sheet divider as herein contemplated;

Fig. 10 is a front end view thereof; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view indicating means for holding the impression cylinder protecting means in position after application thereof.

In that embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, Figure 1 shows in a general way the major portions of a sheet feeding offset press.

The plate cylinder [5 of the press, the blanket cylinder 16, the impression cylinder [1, and the delivery cylinder l8 are shown in a usual type of arrangement, the arrows, .in this form, indicating the direction of rotation of the cylinders. A sheet passing between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder and then between the impression cylinder and the delivery cylinder to be picked up by the graduations I9 of a delivery chain-system ZO-trained around suitable sprockets 2|. The sheets, thus carried, in the usual manner are arranged to be delivered to a skid or the like 22.

It is desired to accomplish the slitting or perforating of the sheets as they pass over the impression cylinder and, as contemplated herein a slitter or perforator, generally designated 23 is arranged to cooperate with the impression cylinder IT for accomplishing the slitting or perforating of the sheets. As illustrated these devices are mounted upon a rod or bar 24 provided for this purpose. It is apparent that if more than one slitting is required, two or more. of the slitting units 23 may be suitably positioned on the mentioned bar 24. v Referring now in particular to Figures 2 and 3, the slitter or perforator comprises a knife holding unit 25 and a control unit 26 therefor. The holder unit may be variously constructed and in the present instance comprises a housing 21 for the slide 28 at one end of which is mounted for rotation the circular slitter or perforator 29. The housing 21 is provided with a clamp member 30 designed to be fixedly secured as by means of the screw or bolt 3|, to the bar 24. It is evident, of course, that the design of the clamp herein illustrated may be altered to suit varying conditions.

The end of the slide 28 opposite to where the slitter disc 29 is carried, is preferably provided with a threaded stud 32, said stud passing through a bracket 33 and having threadedly engaged thereon an adjusting nut 34. The latter member may be suitably provided with a collar portion 35 bearing suitable graduations 36 which may be read in relation to an index mark 3! on the bracket 33. Thus, the degree of projection of the slide in relation to its housing may be determined by the relative positions of the graduations 36 in relation to the index mark 31, and when such position has been determined lock nuts such as 38 and 39 may be employed for locking the slide in the position in which it is set.

While the holding unit as above described could serve to insure against inadvertent release of the slitter disc from the position in which it is set, it must be recognized that because of the type of machine to which it is applied and because of the inherent vibrations therein, inadvertent loosening of the parts might cause at least imperfect slitting and probably damage to the impression cylinder. The invention, therefore, contemplates the provision of the control or looking unit 26 so arranged in relation to the knife holding unit as to obviate the above-mentioned faulty conditions. Further, when setting up the slitter, the control unit may be employed to obtain accurate positioning of the slitter disc.

The mentioned control unit in all respects is similar to the holding unit with the exception that its slide 26a is made somewhat shorter and carries a laterally-disposed pin 46 arranged to engage against one end of a slot 4| formed in the slide 26. A spacing collar or the like 42 between the slides 26 and 28a may be provided.

From the foregoing it may be seen that in addition to facilitating the exact location of the slitter disc 29 in relation to the impression cylinder against which the slitting occurs, the control member serves to controhat least in a direction towards said cylinder, the movement of said slitter disc. By providing appropriate threads on stud 32 and nut 34 micrometric adjustments can be made or obtained.

As herein contemplated the impression cylinder is provided with a band 45 in line with each slitting unit used, and said band is locked on said cylinder as by means of the take-up and locking units shown in Figures 4, and 6. This unit generally designated 46, is preferably positioned and secured within a cut-out already provided therefor in the impression cylinder H. In the frame ll of the unit there are mounted two rollers 46 and 49, each slitted at 56 for the reception of the two ends of the band 45. After training said band around the cylinder and engaging its ends in the mentioned slits of the rollers 48 and 49, means are provided for rotating the rollers to take up slack in the band and to cause it to snugly fit and hug the cylinder. The latter mentioned means preferably comprises cooperative gears 5! carried by the rollers and a stud 52 on one of said rollers which may be engaged by a suitable tool to cause opposite rotation of the gears and thus of the rollers. In this manner the excess portions of the band 45 are taken up to provide for the aforementioned snug fit of the band on the impression cylinder. A'click pawl 53 may be provided to engage one of the gears 5! so that when ultimate tightening of the band 45 is obtained the parts in the unit will be locked against loosening movements. In addition, a lock screw such as 54 may be employed to impinge against one of the rollers or at least on those convolu tions of the band theretrained. I

In order to guide the band in a proper manner past the edges of the gap in the impression cylinder I! guide shoes such as 55 may be employed. These guide shoes eliminate any possibility of kinking the band 45.

The band 45 being trained around a relatively large cylinder-one usually of 72 inches diameter, could not without suitable guide means be so arranged 0n the cylinder as to insure portions thereof being in alinement with a cooperating slitter disc. For the purpose of insuring proper application of the band 45 locating means such as shown in Figures 7 and 8 may be employed. While these means may be varied, it is at present contemplated to provide an annulus or band 56 of relatively greater width than the width of the band 45 so that assurance may be had when the band 56 is trained around the cylinder that at least one of its edges is disposed normal to the axis of said cylinder. Suitable clamping means may be provided for the band 56 and in the present instance comprises cooperating male and female portions 51 and 58, the former having pivoted thereon at 59 a pair of arms 60 having mounted at their free ends thereof an eccentric member 6 l. The female member is provided with a seat 62 for the eccentric which by means of its arm 63 may be so arranged as to normally fall into the seat 62 and then by rotation thereof by means of its arm so locked therein as to cause the arms 66 to draw the tongue 64 of the male member into tight engagement with the member 58.

After the band 56 has been so positioned, it is a simple matter to use one of its edges as a locating means for the band 45 with assurance that there would be no wave in the mentioned band 45.

After the latter has been applied the locating band 56 may be removed and used for similarly applying other bands such as 45, as may be needed. I

Now, when a sheet is passed over the impression cylinder I'l, being carried by grippers provided as at 65, the slitting disc 29 will slit said sheet between itself andits cooperating band 45. It will be noted that this slitting is accomplished at a time when the sheet is under full control by the grippers 65.

After the sheet has passed the impression cylinder and is trained around the delivery cylinder the grippers IQ of the delivery chain system 26 take hold and transport said sheet towards the skid 22. His desirable, however, that before depositing the slitted sheets on the skid that they be divided from each other. For this purpose as shown in Figures 9 and 10 there is provided a divider 66 located in alinement with the slits formed in the sheets.

The divider 66 is preferably formed with ashoe 6'5 over which the sheets pass to be separated by a knife 68 set in their path. Both the shoe and knife may be suitably carried on a horizontallydisposed arm 69 carried in any suitable manner and provided with down reaching members 16 serving to further partition the slitted sheets from each other.

After the band 45 has been applied to the impression cylinder and locked into place as firmly as possible, it has been found that it frequently will shift from this position due to temperature changes and other conditions not under control. In order to obviate this shifting of the band, it has been found that by applying thereover and ing a tacky hygroscopic surface, the band would be held against shifting. This tape commonly known as Scotch tape is shown in Figure 11, being designated by thenumeral H.

The expressions cutter, cutting device, slitter or slitting device used in this specification and the appended claims, are each intended to define a device for slitting, perforating or performing a similar operation on a sheet passing through an ofiset press.

It is evident from the foregoing that simple instrumentalities for the purposes intended have been provided; that efficient perforating, scoring or slitting of sheets may be accomplished thereby; and that said perforation or scoring, or slitting and the ultimate dividing of the slitted sheets are all accomplished with the sheets under full control of the mechanism of the press. As previously stated, the parts and arrangements thereof may be varied. Hence, the invention as hereinafter claimed should be given a broader inter pretation than on the instant specific disclosure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired. to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a press, in combination, a band on the impression cylinder of said press, means for locating said band, means for tightening said band; a sheet slitting unit comprising a housing having a cutter mounted slide, means for regulating the position of said slide in relation to said band; and a locking unit for said slide including a member engaged with said slide to hold said slide against movement towards said band.

2. In a press, in combination, a band on the impression cylinder of said press, means for cating said band, means for tightening said band; a sheet slitting unit comprising a housing having a cutter mounted slide, a locking unit for said slide including a member engaged with said slide to hold said slide against movement towards said band, and means on said slide and said unit for regulating the position of said slide in relation to said band.

3. In a press, in combination, a band on the impression cylinder of said press, means for 10- cating said band; a sheet slitting unit comprising a housing having a cutter mounted slide, means for regulating the position of said slide in relation to said band; and a locking unit for said slide including a member engaged with said slide to hold said slide against movement towards said band.

4. In a press, in combination, a band on the impression cylinder of said press; a sheet slitting unit comprising a housing having a cutter mounted slide, means for regulating the position of said slide in relation to said band; and a looking unit for said slide including a member engaged with said slide to hold said slide against a sheet slitting unit comprising a housing having a cutter mounted slide, means for regulating the position of said slide in relation to said band; a,

locking unit for said slide including a member engaged with said slide to hold said slide against movement towards said band.

7. In an offset press wherein print sheets may be continually fed, in combination sheet slitting means, cylinder protecting means adjacent said slitting means, means for guiding the application of said cylinder protecting means to a cylinder, means for holding said cylinder protecting means in position after application thereof to a cylinder.

8. In an offset press wherein print sheets may be continually fed, in combination sheet slitting means, cylinder protecting means adjacent said slitting means, means for guiding the application of said cylinder protecting means to a cylinder, and means for regulating the distance of said slitting means from said cylinder protecting means.

9. In an offset press wherein print sheets may be continually fed, in combination sheetslitting means, cylinder protecting means adjacent said slitting means, means for guiding the application of said cylinder protecting means to a cylinder, means for regulating the distance of said slitting means from said cylinder protecting means, and means for positively locking said first means with relation to the cylinder of said press. 10. A device for slitting sheets on a sheet feed ofiset press comprising means for slitting the 1 said slitting means with relation to the impreseluding a member engaged with said slide to sion cylinder of said press, and means for micrometrically adjusting the distance between said slitting means and the impression cylinder.

11. A sheet slitter for presses and the like comprising. an encircling band on the impression cylinder of said press, a housing member, a slide in said member, a cutter on said slide, means for regulating the position of said slide and said cutter in relation to said band, a second housing member, a slide therein, and a lateral extension on said second slide having engagement with the first mentioned slide for holding said first mentioned slide against movement towards said band.

12. A sheet slitter for presses and the like comprising a housing member, a slide in said member, a too-l on said slide, means for regulating the position of said slide and said tool in relation to the impression cylinder of the press, a second housing member, a slide therein, and a lateral extension in said second slide having engagement with the first mentioned slide for holding said first mentioned slide against movement towards said band.

13. The combination with the impression cylinder of an offset press of bands adjacently mounted on said cylinder, and slitting means cooperating with one of said bands.

14. The combination with the impression cylinder of an offset press of an encircling member on said cylinder, said member having an edge normal to the axis of said cylinder, a band adjacent and in contact with said encircling member, and slitting means cooperating with said band to slit sheets trained over said impression cylinder.

JOHN A. DAVIDSON. 

